Amaël L’Etang drives to the basket for two points. (Press Pros Feature Photos By Julie Wright-Daniel)
The University of Dayton Flyers can’t seem to solve the University of Cincinnati basketball puzzle as their 74-62 loss to the Bearcats Tuesday in First Third Arena was UD’s 44th loss to the Bearcats in their last 55 meetings. It didn’t help the Flyers on this night when they were 2 for 26 on three-point shots.
CINCINNATI — When the front of the opponent’s uniform reads ‘Cincinnati,’ the University of Dayton basketball team shrivels like a wrinkled old man.
Wilson Health/Orthopedics proudly sponsors the best in area sports and the Ohio State Buckeyes on Press Pros.
On a visit to Fifth Third Arena Tuesday night, the first frigid night of late 2025 (37°), the Flyers were colder than Frosty the Snowman.
Hall of famer Hal McCoy writes UD Flyer basketball exclusively for Press Pros Magazine.com.
The lost, 74-62, and that’s their modus operandi against the Bearcats, their 44th loss in their last 55 games against UC.
But here’s the thing. How can a team lose when the other team commits 24 turnovers? Yes, UC committed 24 turnovers.
A quick glimpse at the box score furnishes the answer in harsh black-and-white.
A team is going to lose when it is 2 for 26 shooting three-pointers. Yes, UD was 2 for 26 from behind the arc, a huge zit on the Flyers’ night.
They shot three-pointers as if the basketball was bigger than the basket and wouldn’t fit.
Dayton guard Javon Bennett, usually as deadly as a military sniper, more resembled a member of the Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight on this night.
De’Shayne Montgomery flips up lefthanded layup.
.
He was 1 for 10 from three and 3 for 15 overall. The only other Flyer to connect from three was 7-foot-1 Amael L’Etang. And he was 1 for 6.
In case one wonders what 2 for 26 calculates to in percentages, it’s 7.7%.
And the Flyers got banged on the backboards, losing the rebound skirmishes. UC’s freight train front line of 7-foot-2, 6-foot-11 and 6-foot-8 clean the glass like Windex, outboarding the Flyers, 43-33.
The 6-foot-11 guys, Baba Miller, grabbed 10 rebounds and 7-foot-2 Moustapha Thiam snagged seven.
Offensively, UC was aggressive and moved with swiftness. Day Day Thomas put on a rack attack bolting for the basket and drawing fouls, enabling him to go 12 for 12 from the foul line en route to game-high 20 points.
Shon Abaey hit a three for UC 16 seconds into the game and the outcome was decided. Almost as quicker than cooking a three-minute egg, the Bearcats owned a 17-4 lead 4 1/2 minutes into the game.
And exactly halfway through the first half Cincinnati owned a 25-10 lead.
Knapke Kitchens and Baths proudly sponsor the Buckeyes on Press Pros Magazine.com.
“We were able to get the shots we were looking for, in terms of the way we were running our offense, but we weren’t able to have success,” said UD coach Anthony Grant. “So they were able to build the lead.”
Then the Flyers began doing something they would do the rest of the night. Several times they crept with five, four, three and once even two points of catching the ‘Cats.
5’10” Javon Bennett tries to drive around 7’2″ Moustapha Thiam.
But each time, in their exuberance, they seemed to rush their offense or cast up a badly aimed three and UC would take a recharge.
For example, the Flyers scrambled to within 29-22 late in the first half and were within 33-26 at halftime.
They got within 39-35 early in the second half, then they were behind, 48-38.
They got within 48-46 midway through the second half, then they were behind, 60-48, as UC went on a 12-2 run.
Well, you get the idea.
“Our guys did a real good job of fighting and competing and putting ourselves in position to make it a two-possession game at the end of the half,” said Grant. “But it ended up being seven.
“And in the second half we put ourselves into it being a one-possession game (48-46), but they were really able to open it up with transition.”
The Arbogast family of dealerships proudly sponsors coverage of Ohio State football on Press Pros Magazine.com.
Tyler McKinney tipped in a missed shot, the Flyers turned it over and Miller converted on a fast break. UD’s Jaiun Simon missed a quick three and Thomas buried a three to push UC in front, 55-46.
Keonte Jones passes on his way to the floor.
The roar form most of the 11,815 could be heard downtown on Vine Street and the 9-0 run pushed UC in front, 55-46.
The Flyers never recovered.
UD’s De’Shaun Montgomery made 5 of his 8 shots, but he joined his teammates in the three-point follies by going 0 for 2. His 13 points were one being Bennett’s team-leading 14.
“We know we’re way better than that,” Montgomery said of the 2 for 26 affair. “We just gotta get in there and keep shooting. We gotta trust they they are going to drop.”
There certainly were no drops in the bucket on this night.
Of the Flyers being down 17-4 and 25-10, Montgomery said, “We didn’t panic. We stayed together as a team. We didn’t do individual stuff. We kept our energy and stayed the course.”
Logan Services, in Dayton, Cincinnati, and Columbus, proudly sponsors the best area sports coverage on Press Pros Magazine.
But in the end, the course was as difficult for the Flyers as Pebble Beach golf course is for a duffer.
Grant, always the optimist, thought the game was a classroom, a night of learning.
“I think we learned a lot, gained a lot,” he said. “Three games into the season, you want to play these type of games because it’s a great opportunity.
Jordan Derkack dribbles on the fast break.
“Give Cincinnati a lot of credit,” he added. “Their speed and athleticism bothered us. We had missed opportunities on both sides.
“We need to be more disciplined offensively and play to our strengths better than what we showed tonight.”
The Flyers do have some strengths, but UC made certain UD was unable to flex those strengths. While UC improved to 3-0, the Flyers dipped to 2-1.
For the Flyers, the game was as much fun as air-balling a three-point shot. They didn’t do that, but 2 for 26 is as embarrassing as two or three air balls.
The Flyers should be able to make it 3-and-1 Saturday when they host Bethune-Cookman in UD Area
Arena.
Allenbaugh Insurance, in Jackson Center, supports the UD Flyers on Press Pros Magazine.